Adhesive applying machine



March 1951 E. w. QUACKENBUSH 2,545,522

ADHESIVE APPLYING MACHINE Filed Nov. 12, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 27, 1951 E. w. QUACKENBUSH 2,546,522

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Patented Mar. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to wrapping machines and more particularly to an apparatus for applying an adhesive film to a portion of the surface of a sheet of paper to be used in the wrapping of an article.

Heretofore difficulty has been experienced in Wrapping packages for transportation when an adhesive was used on the wrapper'itself. Either a wet or Wetted adhesive dries while an article is being wrapped and for that reason cannot be fully utilized, and a quick wetting of a dry adhesive entails an extra operation for that purpose and a further delay to hold the wrapper in place until the adhesive dries sufiiciently to hold the wrapper in place against loosening while handling.

In the present invention a fast drying wet adhesive is applied long enough ahead of its use to establish a good bond with the wrapper and until used is kept from drying by being protected against contact with the atmosphere. By preventing the adhesive from drying, it is always kept in condition for ready use at any time; and once the wrapper is in place, closure can be made quickly without any loss of adhesive effect, the resultant package being ready for immediate handling.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine which applies an adhesive along one edge of the top sheet of a stack of wrappers and separates the treated sheet from the rest for feed purposes or for ready access by hand.

A further object is to provide an apparatus which may be readily adapted to supply single pieces of wrapping paper coated with adhesive to conventional wrapping machines.

Another feature of the invention resides in the application of adhesive to the top sheet of a stack of wrappers, separating the top sheet from the others and keeping the adhesive wet until used, in what is virtually a single operation.

The invention is further characterized by a construction and arrangement of elements which is simple in its organization and operation; easy to manufacture, use and clean; and inexpensive to build, service and repair. These being among the objects of the invention, other and further obiccts will become apparent from the drawings, the description relating thereto, and the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus embodying the preferred form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a modification of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2 by which a sheet is displaced in three directions for handling when adhesive is applied to it.

In the performance of the invention, liquid adhesive is picked up from a supply container by a suppy roll and applied to the edge of the top sheet of a stack of wrappers. A movable applicator conveys the adhesive from the roll to the sheet. The top sheet adheres to the applicator and as the applicator is raised the top sheet is displaced to separate it from other sheets. The contact between the applicator and the sheet transfers the adhesive to the sheet, giving the adhesive enough time to form a good bond. The continued contact between the applicator and the top sheet, with the top sheet in its ready-to-use position, prevents atmospheric contact with the film of adhesive until the sheet is positively pulled from the applicator. Once the sheet is pulled from the applicator, the upper surface of the adhesive film is fresh and wet for strong adhesion when the wrapper is placed around an article,

By way of example and in connection with a calender winding machine such as that shown in my copending application Serial No. 628,155, now Patent No. 2,521,253, reference to which is hereby made, a sub-frame it is provided comprising vertical legs I I and a table top I2 bolted thereto to form a table or bench-like structure upon which the adhesive applicator l3 embodying the invention may be mounted alongwith the calender winding machine shown in my copending application.

The adhesive applying apparatus l3 comprises two side frame members [4 offset as at I5 to receive a plate 1 E which serves as a bed for a stack of wrappers ll. A bed which may be raised or lowered as desired may be employed, but in the embodiment shown the bed I6 is mounted rigidly in place. At each side of the bed [6 a pair of uprights !8 are secured by bolts 20 in spaced relationship with their adjacent edges provided with parallel tracks 2% defining an open slideway 22. Grooved blocks 25 are mounted for vertical movement in the slideways 22 as received in place through the top thereof which is closed by a cap 25. This cap, which is secured by bolts 26, also secures the vertical members rigidly with respect to each other. After the block 24 in one of the slideways 22 is in place, a stationary element 21 is bolted in place which carries a vertical member 28 disposed at one side of the slideway 22 and provided with a cam 39 on the bottom face thereof.

The blocks 24 support a crossbar 3i bored at opposite ends, as indicated at 32, to receive shafts 36 therein to which the bar 3| is keyed by setscrews 33. The outer ends of the shafts 34 are journaled in the blocks 2d and extend beyond the blocks 2 at opposite ends to receive the links The bar 3! is shown in the resting position in Figs. 1 and 2. The lower edge of the bar 35 is provided with resilient pads 35 whose bottom surfaces are adapted to engage the edge of the top sheet 37 on the stack 5? and rest thereupon at the lowermost limit of movement of the blocks 24.

One end of the bar 31 is provided with an outrigger element 33 (Fig. 2) carrying a follower 38 which engages the cam 35 on the lower end of the member 28 when the bar 3! is moved toward its upper limit.

The lower end of the links 35 as shown in Fig. l are bolted to one end of a lever element 4i pivotally mounted to the side frame as at 62. Two levers ii are provided, one on the outside of each of the side frames, to maintain the bar 33 on the level. Whenever th levers ii are raised, the bar 3! is pushed upwardly through the links 3-7), and, as the follower Lit engages the cam the bar Si is rotated through a 99 angle to dispose the pads 36 towards the right of the machine as viewed in Fig. 1.

At this upper limit of the bars movement the pads 31 pick up adhesive from an apparatus which has a glue pan indicated at 43 and two horizontally spaced roller supporting arms li which are pivotally mounted as at il upon blocks 35 which can be adjusted in a horizontal direction by means of an adjustment screw 45. The arms 44 are provided with a height adjusting screw 48 and carry a large adhesive pickup roller 55 which is rotated in the direction of the arrow 55 to pick up adhesive from the pan 43. The roller 52 is adjusted to distribute the adhesive in a thin film of predetermined thickness upon the surface of the roller 50. This film is then transferred by the lag roller 53, which is mounted for loose vertical movement in grooves 5 3, towards the front of the machine to the discharge or feed roller 55 which is journaled in blocks 56 and held in place by a cap 57. It is with the feed roller 55 that the glue pads 36 come into contact to pic. up a thin sheet of glue.

Then, when the levers il are lowered, the follower '55 relinquishes contact with the cam 35, and, under the influence of a torsion spring 39, the bar 3% is turned to its vertical position with the glue pads directed downwardly where they come into contact with the top sheet 3? as a1- ready mentioned to transfer the glue thereto.

For the purpose of raising and lowering the levers il each is provided with a follower 56. An intermittently driven drive shaft 6i is journaled in the side frames it and carries a pair of eccentric wheels 62 to serve as cams for the followers 66. Referring to Fig. 2, the intermittent drive of the shaft 55 is accomplished through a solenoid G3 which actuates a clutch element 5' 5 keyed as at $5 to the shaft 83. The other clutch element 56 is located upon a flywheel s? journaled on the shaft ti and is driven by a sprocket chain 68 from a sprocket wheel 18 in turn driven from a power shaft H. eff shaft of a speed reduction device 12 connected to a motor 13.

The electrical circuit for the solenoid 63 is shown in which a normally open switch it is connected in series with the solenoid 63 to control This shaft is a power takeits operation. The solenoid 53 closes the clutch 6 5 when it is energized. The switch M is preferably a foot treadle switch normally located beneath the table It -Whenever the clutch M, which is the conventional one revolution type, is thrown into engaged position by the action of the solenoid 63 it remains engaged until a complete revolution of the shaft 6! has been accomplished, whereupon the treadle switch M being released and the solenoid 63 deenergized the clutch is automaticall disengaged. Thus each time the treadle switch 14 is closed the apparatus runs through one complete cycle.

Rotation of the shaft 6| is prevented, except when the clutch 64 is engaged, by a friction brake H which surrounds the shaft ti. This brake is secured against rotation by an element E5 to which it is attached.

The motor :73 runs continuously driving the flywheel 61 and also the adhesive pickup roller as at a constant slow speed. The apparatus described is preferably located in back of the calender winding machine described in my copendihg application and whenever a calender is to be wrapped the operator closes the switch it to actuate the clutch 65. When the operator is through winding the calender the apparatus described herein has completed its cycle and the sheet is drawn away from contact with the adhesive pads and the wrapper applied to the calender immediately.

By way of explaining the operation of the cycle of the apparatus described, the moving elements are so adjusted and arranged that the glue pads 35 rise, rotate to receive the glue from the glue roller 55, and then are brought down to engage the top of the upper sheet 31, after which they are raised slightly to the position shown in Fig. 1, whereby the sheet 3i is separated from the stack and held ready for use. This completes the cycle, and the clutch ts disengages itself.

Referring to Fig. 3, an embodiment is shown wherein the torsion spring 33 effects lateral movement of the bar 33 in the resting position shown in i. lateral movement of the bar is accomplished as the pads move upwardly to their resting position so that a cooking action is established against the sheet 3? to slide it slightly sidewise so that it can be gripped by the fingers at one side of the stack when it comes time to slip it into calender wrapping position. The sidewise motion is accomplished by a second cam 6% bearing against the surface 8! on the end of the bar 3! forcing it endwise to compress the torsion spring 39 slightly. In Fig. 3 the cam 28 has been removed to better show the cam 35 which is attached to the back side of the upright In those instances where the wrappers H have been out without riiiling before being placed upon the bed 58, a small roller can be located between the bed iii and the bottom sheet so that it causes a hun p in the stack 57 which tends to riflie the wrappers and assist the separation of the uppermost sheet 3"; when it is contacted by the glue pads and lifted.

Furthermore, wherever the sheets have a tendency to cling together, whether it be due to cutting with a dull knife or static elasticity, a second cam and follower can be provided to rotate the bar 3? to carry the pads rearwardly and develop a pull upon the top sheet 31 either at or prior to the time that the sheet 3? is raised.

From the description it wiil be readily apparent how the objects of the invention are accomplished, particularly the operation by which the adhesive is preserved against drying until the wrapper is ready for use. Intimate contact between the adhesive pads 36 and the sheet prevents atmospheric contact which would dry the adhesive and when the sheet ill is pulled through either by hand or an automatic feeder, the upper surface thereof is fresh and wet for quick adhesion. Consequently, a quick drying glue can be used in the device with improved results and the moment that the wrapper is wrapped around and the adhesive treated edge is pressed down, the wrapper is ready for handling.

Consequently, although certain embodiments of the invention have been shown and described herein it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various and further modifications and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for applying an adhesive film to a sheet comprising a stationary bed for supporting a stack of sheets, said bed having its surface unobstructed whereby sheets may be readily lifted away from the bed, a pair of vertical slideways over said bed, a linearly movable element riding in said slideways having a pad on its lower surface for transferring adhesive to the top sheet of the stack, means for applying adhesive to said pad, a power drive, a pivoted arm attached to the movable element at one end for reciprocating same, a rotatable cam for lifting the arm during a portion of a revolution, said pad resting on the uppermost sheet of the stack during another portion of a revolution to transfer adhesive thereto, and clutch means for selectively connecting the power drive to the rotatable cam to cycle the apparatus.

2. An apparatus for applying an adhesive film to a sheet comprising a fixed bed for supporting a stack of sheets, a pair of vertical slideways over said bed, a linearly movable element riding in said slideways having a pad on its lower surface for transferring adhesive to the top sheet of the stack, means for applying adhesive to said pad, a pivoted arm attached to the movable element at one end for reciprocating same, and a rotating cam for lifting the arm during a portion of a revolution, said pad resting on the uppermost sheet of the stack during another portion of a revolution to transfer adhesive thereto.

3. In an apparatus for applying a liquid adhesive to a sheet the combination including vertically reciprocable transfer element having an adhesive transfer surface on the bottom thereof, means for applying adhesive to said surface, a bed for supporting a stack of sheets, means for raising the transfer element above the bed including an eccentric wheel, a power drive for driving said wheel, and a one revolution clutch for connecting the wheel to the power drive, and a brake for said eccentric wheels, said brake being so located as to stop the transfer element between cycles a distance above the top of the bed.

4. In an apparatus for applying a liquid adhesive to a sheet and for separating a single sheet from a stack. thereof, the combination including a reciprocable transfer element having an adhesive transfer surface, means for applying adhesive to said surface, a bed for supporting a stack of sheets, means for moving the transfer element away from the bed including an eccentric wheel, a power drive for driving said wheel, and a one revolution clutch for connecting the wheel to the power drive, and brake means so located with respect to the wheel as to stop the transfer element between cycles a distance away from the top of the bed, the adhesive on the surface adhering to the top sheet in the stack to separate it therefrom.

5. An apparatus for applying a liquid adhesive film to a sheet comprising a rotating roller having a thin film of adhesive thereon, a movable ransfer element having a resilient pad for carrying adhesive, 9. pair of slideways for said element extending downwardly from said roller, bearing means for rotatably supporting the ends of the transfer elemen in each of said slideways, said bearing being reciprocable in the slideways, drive means for lifting said transfer element to the top of said slideways, a support for a stack of sheets at the bottom or said slideways, means at the top of the slideways for rotating the transfer element to bring the resilient into contact with the roller, a one revohition clutch for intermittently supplying power to said drive means, manually actuated means for engaging said clutch when it is desired to gum a sheet, and brake means for stopping said drive means when the clutch is disengaged, said bralre means being so located as to checl: motion. of said drive means in such position that said transfer element comes to rest at a point spaced above the top of the stack of sheets.

6. In a device of the class described, an adhesive supplying roller, a vertically reciprocable transfer element, guide means for movably supporting said element below said roller, means for reciprocating element including a lever fixed to said transfer element at one point and a rotary cam ior lifting said lever, means for checking rotation of said cam at a point at which said lever is slightly raised from its lowermost position, a clutch for intermittently connecting said cam to a source of power, means for engaging and disengaging said clutch when said lever is in the slightly raised position, and a support for a stack of sheets, said support being so located that the top sheet of the stack is below the resting position or said lever but above the lowermost position of the lever.

EDWARD N. QUACKENBUSH.

CITED The followin references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 517,684 Day Apr. 3, 1894 523,331 Dexter July 24, 1894 527,009 Bazerque Oct. 2, 1894 

